Democrats’ primary problems

Josh Kraushaar

NationalJournal.com

Republicans have thrown away several toss-up congressional races in recent years by nominating candidates too extreme to win, said Josh Kraushaar. Democrats could now make the very same mistake with candidates who are veering dangerously leftward. With just days to go before the first primaries for the midterms, the party faces “serious problems in critical races.” In Houston, an “outspoken progressive journalist” named Laura Moser is “within striking distance” of winning her primary against a more mainstream candidate—even though many Democratic officials believe she’d be “virtually unelectable” in the general election. In a California district where the party holds a 7-point edge over the GOP, five Democrats are vying for the nomination; if they split the vote in the all-party primary, the candidates in November could be two Republicans. The California Democratic Party even voted last week not to endorse five-term Sen. Dianne Feinstein for re-election, deeming her too moderate. Party officials in Washington have belatedly interceded, but intervention from Washington often tends to harden the outsider’s support. Perhaps these candidates will fade away. But if they don’t, Democrats could squander their chance to flip the House.